After an unsavoury experience in the school cafeteria, it became necessary to obtain a supplementary sandwich to get through the day. A man can only gorge himself at Ghazale, commiserate at Caplansky’s, yearn for Yitz’s, or seek solace at the Stockyards Smokehouse so often. Yet, can two mere pieces of bread, a filling, and some ersatz topping soothe one’s soul and calm one’s spirit amidst the tidal waves that comprise daily life? The answer frequently depends on the condiments. Hence the sunny afternoon trek to The Black Camel (unfortunately not by camel). Previously, the pulled pork sandwich proved succulent, accompanied …
The Secret in Their Eyes
A film that alternates between drama, romance, and comedy, The Secret in Their Eyes shows that thoughtful filmmaking is not dead (at least until the final ten minutes when subtlety goes out the window). Esposito is a retired investigator who is now an aspiring writer. Although he has changed careers, he cannot put his two passions – an unsolved case and an unrequited love – out of his mind. The crime in question, a twenty-five year old murder and rape case, is not overly intricate. Some crime thrillers compile twist after twist until the story passes the bounds of plausibility …
Nuremberg: Its Lesson for Today
“The war was over but there was no peace.” Nuremberg: Its Lesson for Today is the documentary complement to the dramatic Judgment at Nuremberg. Both feature the themes of good and evil and how one can determine morality in a subjective world. The opening comments of the prosecutor in the documentary seem as certain as the fictional character in the drama. At that time and place – post-war Germany in 1945 and 1946 – it certainly seemed that those on trial must have steadfastly supported the sinister atrocities of the German Reich. Judgment at Nuremberg shows that that interpretation is …
The Misfortunates
Like that episode of The Simpsons when Bart, Lisa, and Maggie were forced into temporary foster care with the Flanders, The Misfortunates explores the meaning of family. The Strobbes may be a family of violent and lazy drunkards but they are very loyal to each other. The four brothers – often incompetently but always sincerely – try to raise the next generation to mixed results. Their drinking habits, fighting, and unemployment have a clear deleterious effect on thirteen-year-old Gunther but he can’t decide whether to support his family or get away from them. Forced to write lines at school because …
When the Game Was Ours
Over the years, the game of basketball has greatly changed. Whether it is an evolution or not has yet to be determined. Although it contains plenty of anecdotes about its two co-authors, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, the most interesting aspect of When the Game Was Ours is the contrast between basketball in the 1980s relative to the game today. In addition to new Association rules, players have different attitudes today. Less emphasis is placed on winning. Firstly, it’s unlikely that we will ever see teams with multiple hall of famers like the mid-1980s Los Angeles Lakers (four) and Boston …
Blue Devils and Raptors
I like ball movement. I like player movement. I even like it more when the two coincide. I like the Duke Blue Devils. I like the Toronto Raptors. So the twenty-four hour period that began at 21h00 on Saturday night contained both highs and lows. There was one primary reason that Duke beat West Virginia in the National Semi-Finals: motion. Golden State beat Toronto Sunday afternoon for the same reason: motion. I like motion.
Neil Young Trunk Show
Concert films are difficult to evaluate because they are similar to the television broadcast of a sports event. The entertainment value of the event is closely tied to the event itself. If a director misses a shot and the viewer misses part of the action, the mistake is recognized but excellent performance is rarely acknowledged. The Neil Young Trunk Show rocks but does it rock because Neil Young rocks or because it is an amazing film? Neil Young certainly rocks, combining acoustic and rock numbers. There are passionate lyrics, intricate solos, and a diverse selection of songs. Anyone could have …
Alice in Wonderland
What will be the first truly great 3-D film? Alice in Wonderland entertains throughout but proves to be a colourful pop-up book more than a significant movie. I found the screenplay to be sorely lacking; perhaps all of these “destiny” films share the same shortcomings. If it is foretold that the protagonist is going to do something than they will do it by the time the climax arrives. The rising action of “will he give up?” or “will she walk away?” becomes entirely meaningless. The film seems to lack irreverence or innocence and becomes a series of mundane events. At …
Shutter Island
So what if Shutter Island is a visually stunning work of art? Would you expect anything else from the best director of the past quarter-century? The overhead shots – which give the audience the impression of peering down and spying on the mysterious island – are a captivating technique employed by Martin Scorsese. Some of the long shots which zoom into extreme close-ups rival the visual interest of the dolly zooms in GoodFellas. Irrespective of the rest of the film, the cinematography is spectacular. The plot befits a blunt felt-tipped marker rather than an elegant quill. I cannot blame the …
The Runaways
If the aim of a film is to create a mood, The Runaways succeeds. 1970s sex, drugs, and rock and roll is perfectly captured by director Floria Sigismondi. Canted angles, zooming in and out of focus, trailing shots; Sigismondi employs a variety of techniques. It’s true that the content – chronicling the 1970s band comprising Joan Jett and Cherie Currie – is controversial and somewhat shocking but the craft of the director brings this historical film to the next level. The audience wishes that the film could continue, even though it encompasses the entire career of the band. Jett and …
Chloe
Chloe showcases what talent can accomplish, especially during the first half of the film. Compelling performances, creative cinematography, and clever direction grab the audience’s attention. Fearing that her husband David may be cheating, Catherine hires the titular character to tempt him. As Chloe reveals what transpires between her and the music professor, she becomes closer with Catherine. The story is told from Catherine’s perspective: we see how she imagines what happens between David and Chloe gradually, how she wistfully gazes at other couples and compares them to what she thinks her relationships has lost. Gradually, she pulls apart from her …
Making Better Decisions
When a crisis occurs during the year, the players are ultimately responsible for the resolution. Coaches can recommend actions but players must execute these actions. Sometimes, the players must pull themselves together and move forward on their own. Adversity occurs during every minute of every game and practice: there are always battles between you and an opponent (or you and yourself) that present opportunities to set a personal best. Adversity also occurs every day of your life. How we make decisions under pressure decides how we handle adversity. Decisions made under pressure in sport will recur under pressure in daily …
The Messenger
The Messenger is better than The Hurt Locker. Both films express common themes, such as the mental state of army personnel – during and after their deployment – and how people react differently to stressful situations. The films also introduce themselves slowly, using staccato rhythm of individual missions and assignments before reverting to a more traditional Hollywood storyline arc. Staff Sergeant Will Montgomery returns from Iraq after suffering an eye injury. He is assigned to the “Angels of Death” squadron, led by Captain Tony Stone, which is tasked with informing the next of kin after a casualty. Initial encounters with …
Los Angeles 109, Toronto 107
Coming down the stretch of the Lakers’ 109-107 victory over the Raptors Tuesday night, it was easily apparent which team was more accustomed to the pressure of a close game. Los Angeles was able to take high percentage shots more consistently and get to the line more frequently than their opponent. Toronto was unable to take advantage of the bonus free throws to which they were entitled and made several questionable turnovers. Furthermore, when Lakers defenders squeezed Raptors guards, teammates seemed frozen on the spot and timeouts were required to save the possession. Jarrett Jack had to bail himself out …
Un prophète
Most reviews of Un prophète are either very positive or quite negative. There seems to be no middle ground. I don’t know what to make of it. I would ask any view of Avatar or The Hurt Locker whether each film would have the same impact if it were the fourth or fifth version of that style of film. Unfortunately for Un prophète, it seems like it is one neo-realist film too many. After films like Gomorrah, Sin Nombre, and The Disappearance of Alice Creed have broken down all taboos and shown the gritty omnipresent nature of crime. Relative to …
Communication between Athletes and Coaches
Players are people. People should think because intelligent thinking optimizes performances. Therefore, players should think. Young players are new to the game. They encounter multiple situations for the first time with which they must learn to cope. They must process what is happening is on the court, place it into context, and select a course of action. For inexperienced players, coaches are the primary source of cues on how to interpret information and make a good decision. Sport is a vehicle to teach life skills, including how to make decisions under pressure. Basketball is inherently stressful – physical and mental …